Water Pik moves into pet care with Pet Wand Pro

FORT COLLINS, Colo. — An innovation from the makers of WaterPik is looking to make it easier for pet owners to bathe their furry friends. The company, Water Pik, has introduced the Pet Wand Pro, which creates a high-pressure WaterComb spray to get through thick fur while avoiding overspray.

The Pet Wand Pro features a dial to allow users to switch from the high-pressure setting to a narrow spray, or click into pause mode to stop the water flow. It also features a diverter that can attach to existing showerheads and allows water flow to be switched back and forth, as well as an adapter and swivel hose for attaching to a garden hose for outdoor bathing.

“The pet care industry is growing and consumer demand is there for a grooming tool like the new Pet Wand Pro,” Water Pik president and CEO Richard Bisson said. “Waterpik has continually delivered a superior shower performance with revolutionizing technologies. The Pet Wand Pro is our first step into the pet care category providing a much-needed solution for consumers that want to make bath time for pets faster and more enjoyable.”

VR ‘how to’ classes make retail debut

Home improvement chain Lowe’s is embarking on the next chapter of its virtual reality journey.

On March 7, the home improvement chain’s store in Framingham, Mass., debuted its “Holoroom How To,” Lowe’s first-ever virtual reality DIY skills-training clinic. As consumers enter the interactive virtual reality (VR)-based environment, they wear an HTC Vive headset to receive “hands-on” tutorials on basic DIY skills, including supplies and steps, needed to complete a project.

The first module teaches how to tile a shower.

“This allows us to teach our customers in a way that we could have never previously imagined, and give them the confidence they need to undertake a daunting renovation,” according to Lowe’s Innovation Labs.

The chain’s prior virtual reality programs helped customers visualize their kitchen and bath renovations, “but we have found a unique opportunity to use the VR platform for skills training,” according to the chain.

“Our studies show that Holoroom How To actually lifts unskilled DIYers to a memory performance level comparable to that of experienced DIYers,” Lowe’s said. “This allows us to teach our customers in a way that we could have never previously imagined, and give them the confidence they need to undertake a daunting renovation.”

Walmart issues $157M in bonuses to employees

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart issued $157 million in bonuses to 850,000 employees based upon store performance. The bonuses, along with annual pay raises, were included in employees’ March 9 paycheck.

Over the past two years, Walmart has invested billions of dollars in training, education and higher wages. These programs offer associates skills, knowledge and tools to help them grow with the company and provide great customer service during a time of rapid change in shopping habits. During 2016, Walmart launched new training programs for entry-level associates, frontline supervisors, department managers and assistant managers, intended to create clearer career paths and preparing them to succeed in a new, technology-enabled age of retail.

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Grocery retailer and wholesaler Supervalu has shared the results from its fiscal 2018 third-quarter, which included a boon to its wholesale business in the form of its Unified Grocers acquisition, even as retail sales declined. The Minneapolis-based company’s total continuing operations saw net sales of $3.94 billion — up 31% from $3 billion in the same period last year.

RLA Collective, an OTC/healthcare-focused integrated marketing agency, made the 2018 Innovation SABRE Awards shortlist for three programs in digital/marketing: “Best in Digital Marketing/Advertising” for an integrated media campaign with Vetoquinol U.S.A; “Best Use of Video Networks” utilizing Facebook LIVE to showcase pet care advice from Tomlyn's resident veterinarians; and “Best in Brand Narratives” for a unique video testimonial influencer campaign, “VSL#3: The Journey Back," (featured above) the company announced last week.

Petrics, a pet health technology company, is looking to make tracking weight, activity levels and rest periods a whole lot easier for pet owners. By launching the Smart Pet Bed, Activity Tracker, pet Health and Nutrition App, the Las Vegas-based company is aiming to help those four-legged family members achieve optimal weight ranges.

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